Lirceus usdagalun
Encyclopedia
Lirceus usdagalun is a rare species of crustacean
known by the common name Lee County cave isopod. It is endemic to Virginia
in the United States, where it is known from a single network of karst
cave systems in Lee County
. It is threatened by a number of processes. It is a federally listed endangered species
of the United States.
This isopod is a troglobite
, an organism that spends its entire life in subterranean caves. It is roughly 7 millimeters long. It lacks eyes and pigmentation. It is flattened and has seven pairs of appendages. The species name, usdagalun, is from a Cherokee
word meaning "cave" or "hole under rock".
This organism is endemic to The Cedars, a cave region in the Powell River Valley of southwestern corner of Virginia. It is known from four cave systems. When it was listed as an endangered species, only two populations were known, one of which was thought to have been extirpated
by pollution
from sawmill
sawdust
. This population has since re-established itself in the cave after abatement of the pollution. The isopod is sensitive to changes in water quality.
The isopod lives underwater on rocks and gravel in subterranean caves. It is associated with other cave organisms, including the isopod Caecidotea recurvata, the amphipod Crangonyx antennatus, snails (genus Fontigens
), and planarians (genus Sphalloplana). At least 33 rare species of animals and plants are found at The Cedars.
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
known by the common name Lee County cave isopod. It is endemic to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States, where it is known from a single network of karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
cave systems in Lee County
Lee County, Virginia
According to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people, 11,587 households, and 6,852 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,587 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
. It is threatened by a number of processes. It is a federally listed endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of the United States.
This isopod is a troglobite
Troglobite
Troglobites are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglobite species include spiders, insects, fish and others. They live permanently underground and cannot survive outside the cave environment. Troglobite adaptations and characteristics include a heightened...
, an organism that spends its entire life in subterranean caves. It is roughly 7 millimeters long. It lacks eyes and pigmentation. It is flattened and has seven pairs of appendages. The species name, usdagalun, is from a Cherokee
Cherokee language
Cherokee is an Iroquoian language spoken by the Cherokee people which uses a unique syllabary writing system. It is the only Southern Iroquoian language that remains spoken. Cherokee is a polysynthetic language.-North American etymology:...
word meaning "cave" or "hole under rock".
This organism is endemic to The Cedars, a cave region in the Powell River Valley of southwestern corner of Virginia. It is known from four cave systems. When it was listed as an endangered species, only two populations were known, one of which was thought to have been extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
by pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
from sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
sawdust
Sawdust
Sawdust is a by-product of cutting lumber with a saw, composed of fine particles of wood. It can present a hazard in manufacturing industries, especially in terms of its flammability....
. This population has since re-established itself in the cave after abatement of the pollution. The isopod is sensitive to changes in water quality.
The isopod lives underwater on rocks and gravel in subterranean caves. It is associated with other cave organisms, including the isopod Caecidotea recurvata, the amphipod Crangonyx antennatus, snails (genus Fontigens
Fontigens
Fontigens is a genus of minute freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the family Hydrobiidae.-Species:Species within the genus Fontigens include:* Tapered cavesnail, Fontigens holsingeri...
), and planarians (genus Sphalloplana). At least 33 rare species of animals and plants are found at The Cedars.